Going up the line

Today we left the cottage and headed north to Sudbury, where we lived for two years when we were first married and our eldest, Alexander, was born. We then turned west towards Sault Ste. Marie. This took us along the North Channel, the long body of water that connects Lake Superior to Georgian Bay at Killarney. Famous for its beautiful cruising grounds, the North Channel in the past connected many small communities such as Espanola, Spanish, Massey, Blind River and Bruce Mines. 

In my mother's family, going from Sault Ste. Marie along the North Channel was also known as "going down the line." Her father, and grandfather before him, owned and ran the Model Dairy in Sault Ste. Marie. She used to accompany her Dad on occasion when he would go down the line to visit his customers. Today, we went back up the line toward the Sault, thus the title of the blog.  

This is a mix of shield country and pockets of farm land, none of it wonderful, but it did support dairy farms where the dairy would also get some of its milk. 

It was exciting to finally get going on our trip and we enjoyed the scenery under mostly sunny skies. 

We arrived, late afternoon, to a warm welcome from my Aunt Joan, who still lives in the Sault. My cousin Bill came over as well. We reminisced about past times; my Mom used to bring my brother and I up to the Sault in the summertimes until I was 15 years old. Lots of things to remember from those days.

Joan invited us to stay the night, so we cancelled our first night of camping at the local KOA in favour of a nice bed, Chinese take-out and a chance to charge up all our electronics! Food shopping first thing tomorrow and then a 5-hour trip to Neys Provincial Park. And no wimping out this time!

A full car being packed at the marina (above) with just enough room for Zoe (below). For those worrying about her, we have a heavy duty webbed mesh that is attached to the frame of the van to ensure that none of it shifts forward.

We took the by-pass around Sudbury, and saw one of the smokestacks from a distance.

Sitting with my Aunt Joan in the den. She is the most stylish, with-it 90-year old either of us have ever met and she hasn't changed at all since when I was a kid. She has been wonderfully welcoming, and she and Zoe have been bonding.